Prisoners must not be allowed to vote

WHY do politicians so often feel the need to fly in the face of the wishes of the rest of the country?

Prisoners have forfeited their rights to be involved in democracy [GETTY]

There is no popular call whatsoever for prisoners serving short sentences to be allowed the vote and yet the preposterous Lord Prescott, that brave class warrior with a seat in the Lords and a penchant for croquet, says that inmates locked up for less than a year should be allowed to attend the ballot box.

Oh no they shouldn't: they are in prison for a reason and as such have forfeited their right to a say in the democratic process.

This proposal originates in the EU, needless to say. Yet another argument for us to get out.